California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris - Press Releaseshttps://www.oag.ca.gov/news
enConsumer Alert: Protecting Against Identity Theft During the 2015 Tax Seasonhttps://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/consumer-alert-protecting-against-identity-theft-during-2015-tax-season
<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-03-03T00:00:00-08:00">March 3, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (415) 703-5837, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>As part of National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris is alerting Californians to the threat of tax-related identity theft and issuing tips on how consumers can protect themselves during the tax filing process.</p>
<p>Tax-related identity theft commonly occurs when thieves send phishing emails that appear to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), asking for personal information or including links to official-looking web sites. Thieves may also use stolen personal information to file tax returns in someone else’s name in order to obtain a refund.</p>
<p><b>Tax Season Safety Tips </b></p>
<ul><li>Beware of unsolicited phone calls, emails or texts from anyone claiming to be from the IRS or the California Franchise Tax Board. If in doubt, contact the agency using the contact information in the Resources section below. </li>
<li>Never open an email or a text message that says it is from the IRS or the Franchise Tax Board; they are always fraudulent. State and federal tax agencies never initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text message or social media to request personal or financial information or to send notice regarding audits or refunds.</li>
<li>If you think you have a tax identity theft problem or receive a letter from the IRS or the FTB stating that someone has already filed using your information, contact the agency. See the contact information in the Resources section below.</li>
<li>When preparing your tax return for electronic filing, be sure to use a unique strong password on your online filing accounts. A strong password is eight or more characters, including letters, numbers and symbols. Use a unique password for each of your tax filing accounts.</li>
<li>Think beyond the password. For greater security, you can get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) for your e-filing account with the IRS. A new PIN is provided each year by the IRS. See the Resources section for more information.</li>
<li>Check on the availability of two-step authentication to protect your tax filing accounts (and other online accounts containing sensitive information, such as your email and social media accounts). Two-step authentication offers stronger protection than just a password and username. The process (also called login approval or multi-factor authentication) adds a second factor, such as a one-time use code that is sent to you by email, phone or text. You enter that code, along with your username and password, to get access to your account. For more on two-step authentication, see the Resources section below.</li>
</ul><p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>Resources</b></p>
<p><b>Internal Revenue Service</b></p>
<p>Identity theft: <a href="http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Identity-Protection">www.irs.gov/Individuals/Identity-Protection</a>, <a href="http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Indications-your-identity-may-have-been-stolen-and-how-to-report-it-to-us">www.irs.gov/Individuals/Indications-your-identity-may-have-been-stolen-and-how-to-report-it-to-us</a>. 1-800-908-4490</p>
<p>Tax scams: <a href="http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts">www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts</a> </p>
<p>Identity Protection PIN: <a href="http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-An-Identity-Protection-PIN">www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-An-Identity-Protection-PIN</a></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>California Franchise Tax Board</b></p>
<p>Identity theft: <a href="http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/id_theft.shtml">www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/id_theft.shtml</a> <b> </b></p>
<p>ID Theft Resolution Coordinator Web information: 916-845-3669</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>California Attorney General</b></p>
<p>Identity Theft Protection and First Aid: <a href="http://www.oag.ca.gov/idtheft">www.oag.ca.gov/idtheft</a> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Two-Step Authentication </b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.stopthinkconnect.org/campaigns/details/?id=460">www.stopthinkconnect.org/campaigns/details/?id=460</a></p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 03 Mar 2015 18:47:38 +0000Office of the Attorney General48605 at https://www.oag.ca.govAttorney General Kamala D. Harris Sponsors Cyber-Exploitation Legislationhttps://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-sponsors-cyber-exploitation-legislation
<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-03-02T00:00:00-08:00">March 2, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (415) 703-5837, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><b>SACRAMENTO</b> –Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced a package of bills that will increase protections for victims and provide tools for law enforcement to prosecute the growing number of cyber-exploitation cases in California.</p>
<p>Cyber-exploitation, commonly known as revenge porn, is defined as the non-consensual distribution and publication of intimate photos and videos. The poster sometimes obtains the photos or videos during a prior relationship, or steals them by hacking into the victim’s phone, computer, or social media accounts.</p>
<p>“Cyber-exploitation is a heinous crime that humiliates and degrades victims, while creating devastating effects on their personal and professional lives,” said Attorney General Harris. “This legislation will provide law enforcement with tools to prosecute these crimes, and provide critical support to victims suffering from the debilitating impacts.” </p>
<p>Senate Bill 676 (Cannella, R-Ceres) would classify the intentional distribution of personal identifying information associated with the image of an intimate body part, obtained without the consent of the person depicted, as a new crime under Penal Code 647. Additionally, SB 676 would expand the forfeiture provision for possession of child pornography to include the forfeiture of cyber-exploitation images, allowing law enforcement to remove these images from unauthorized possession.</p>
<p>"Several years ago, it was brought to my attention that countless lives were being destroyed because another person they trusted distributed compromising photos of them online. As a result, I created legislation that makes this activity illegal," said Cannella. "I quickly realized, however, there was much more to be done. As technology evolves, unfortunately, so does the rate of these cyber-crimes – increasing the number of victims impacted. And while I wish these types of crimes didn’t exist, SB 676 and AB 1310 will provide even more protection to victims."</p>
<p>Assembly Bill 1310 (Gatto, D-Glendale) would amend Penal Code 1524 to allow search warrants to be issued for crimes related to cyber-exploitation. Amending this statute will give law enforcement the ability to search electronic databases and retrieve the victims’ images. AB 1310 will also allow for the prosecution of cyber-exploitation cases in the county where the victim resides or in the county where the images was posted. Since posters and website operators commonly reside outside of the victim’s jurisdiction, this change in the law will relieve some of the burden placed on the victim during the prosecution of the case.</p>
<p> “AB 1310 will make it more difficult for criminals to escape prosecution by allowing district attorneys and law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those who exploit their victims across multiple jurisdictions,” said Gatto.</p>
<p>In 2011, Attorney General Harris created the eCrime Unit to identify and prosecute identity theft crimes, cybercrimes and other crimes involving the use of technology. In February, a jury in San Diego County found Kevin Bollaert, the operator of a cyber-exploitation website, guilty of 6 counts of extortion and 21 counts of identity theft. He is currently awaiting sentencing. This was the first criminal prosecution of a cyber-exploitation website operator in the nation. </p>
<p>In February 2014, Attorney General Harris announced the arrest of Casey E. Meyering, 28, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who operated the website WinByState.com. He is charged with 5 felony extortion counts and is currently awaiting trial in Napa County. Both cases arose from investigations by the California Attorney General’s eCrime unit.</p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 02 Mar 2015 18:04:22 +0000Office of the Attorney General48581 at https://www.oag.ca.govAttorney General Kamala D. Harris and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin Announce Legislation to Improve Transparency and Accountability for Commercial Charitable Fundraisershttps://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-and-assemblymember-jacqui-irwin-announce
<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-02-24T00:00:00-08:00">February 24, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (415) 703-5837, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>SACRAMENTO </strong>- Today, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) unveiled legislation aimed at maintaining consumer confidence in charitable giving. The bill would close a loophole in disclosure requirements for paid commercial fundraising campaigns and include for-profit fundraising firms and other third parties who engage in misconduct in the Attorney General’s 10-year statute of limitations.</p>
<p>“Californians should have complete confidence that the donation they make to a charitable organization will go toward the cause they support, and feel secure knowing their gift won’t be diverted to the pockets of a third-party, for-profit fundraiser,” said Attorney General Harris. “I thank Assemblymember Irwin for standing with me to increase transparency and empower Californians with the information they need to donate wisely.”</p>
<p>Assembly Bill 556 closes a loophole in existing charitable giving transparency requirements that currently allows third parties to solicit funds from donors without disclosing whether a portion of their gift will be diverted to a paid company by establishing their operations as “fundraising counsel” instead of “commercial fundraisers.” Attorney General Harris’ office recently released a report summarizing the results of charitable solicitation campaigns conducted by commercial fundraisers in 2013, which reveals the alarming extent to which charitable donations are often diverted to for-profit companies.</p>
<p>For-profit third party fundraisers played a role in a recent charity enforcement case, People v. Help Hospitalized Veterans, where a charitable fraud scheme included directing nearly three-quarters of the gross revenue made to for-profit fundraising campaigns in which the charity’s “fundraising counsel” was not required to disclose in their direct mail pieces that a paid professional fundraiser was profiting from each donation.</p>
<p>In addition, because of a gap in the Government Code’s statute of limitations for charitable misconduct lawsuits, not all parties responsible for the fraud in the Help Hospitalized Veterans case were able to be held accountable. AB 556 will expand the statute to include enforcement actions against commercial fundraisers, fundraising counsel, and other third party entities that aid and abet the exploitation of charitable assets. This ten year window is often necessary in such cases, which are complex, fact-intensive, and cover misconduct occurring over an extended period of time.</p>
<p>“As a city councilmember and board member of local nonprofits in Ventura County, I saw the enormous positive impact that charities have on our communities,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks). “AB 556 will help keep bad behavior by a few from undermining the confidence that Californians have in the more than 70,000 active nonprofit organizations doing great work in California. I commend Attorney General Kamala Harris for her work on this issue and look forward to working with her on AB 556.”</p>
<p>In late 2014, a comprehensive report on California’s non-profit sector, Causes Count, was issued by the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), a “chamber of commerce” representing 9,200 nonprofits. According to the report, California’s charitable organizations contribute 15 percent — or one-sixth — of California’s Gross State Product.</p>
<p>“California nonprofits are trusted institutions,” said Jan Masaoka, CEO of CalNonprofits. “We support legislation like AB 556 that closes gaps in the law that no legitimate charity needs to exploit to fulfill its mission. We appreciate that Attorney General Harris and Assemblymember Irwin support the non-profit sector’s role in California as an economic driver, an innovation leader, and a champion for hope and opportunity, always looking toward a better future.”</p>
<p>Legislative text available <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB556">here</a>.</p>
<p>View the Attorney General’s report on charitable solicitation campaigns conducted by commercial fundraisers <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/charities/publications/2013cfr/cfr2013.pdf?">here</a>.</p>
<p>Read CalNonprofits’ Causes Count report <a href="http://www.calnonprofits.org/images/downloads/causes-count-808.pdf">here</a>.</p>
<p>Assemblymember Irwin’s Website: <a href="http://www.asmdc.org/irwin">www.asmdc.org/irwin</a></p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 24 Feb 2015 21:52:11 +0000Office of the Attorney General48500 at https://www.oag.ca.govInformation on the Restitution Payments Resulting from California’s Settlement with eBayhttps://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/information-restitution-payments-resulting-california%E2%80%99s-settlement-ebay-0
<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-02-23T00:00:00-08:00">February 23, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (415) 703-5837, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><strong>SAN FRANCISCO</strong> <strong>-</strong> On Thursday, May 1, 2014, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced a $3.75 million settlement with eBay over allegations the company violated state anticompetitive laws by making a “no-poach” agreement with Intuit between 2006 and 2009.</p>
<p>If you lived in California between January 1, 2005 and May 1, 2014 and were employed by eBay or Intuit during that time, you may be eligible for payment from a parens patriae settlement negotiated on your behalf by the Attorney General of California. Eligible employees, current and former employees of eBay and Intuit, have until February 25, 2015 to submit a claim for restitution. If you believe you are eligible but did not receive a notice, please visit the claims website for more information. Claims submitted after February 25, 2015 will not be processed, so eligible individuals should submit claims through the claims website or by mail as soon as possible.</p>
<p>A portion of the settlement fund is being used to pay restitution to individuals employed in California by eBay or Intuit since 2005. Restitution payments will be made to three distinct pools of current and former employees. The first pool of approximately forty individuals who were employed by Intuit and considered for but not offered a position at eBay, will receive between $5,000 and $10,000 each.</p>
<p>The second pool of approximately 950 individuals who were employed by Intuit and applied for but were not offered a position at eBay, will receive between $1,000 and $1,500 each. The third pool includes current and former employees who fall within the terms of the settlement but are not included in the first or second pool. While these individuals did not apply for jobs at the other company, they may have been indirectly affected by the anticompetitive conduct and will receive a maximum payment of $150.</p>
<p>For more information, please visit the claims website at <a href="http://www.agtechemploymentsettlement.com/">http://www.agtechemploymentsettlement.com/</a> where claims can be submitted either electronically or by downloading and printing a paper form.</p>
<p>This release is a follow-up to the initial settlement announcement available at <a href="http://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-reaches-4-million-settlement-ebay-over.">http://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-reaches-4-million-settlement-ebay-over.</a></p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:31:51 +0000Office of the Attorney General48490 at https://www.oag.ca.govAttorney General Kamala D. Harris Sponsors Legislation to Support Law Enforcement Efforts in Combatting Transnational Crimehttps://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-sponsors-legislation-support-law-enforcement
<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-02-23T00:00:00-08:00">February 23, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (415) 703-5837, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><b>SACRAMENTO</b> – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced her sponsorship of two bills that will help provide enhanced support to law enforcement agencies in their investigations of transnational criminal organizations.</p>
<p>Transnational criminal organizations have made California the single biggest point of entry for methamphetamine into the United States, with 70% entering through the San Diego Port of Entry. These organizations transfer billions of dollars out of the U.S. through California. As much as $40 billion in illicit funds were laundered in the state in 2012, according to Attorney General Harris’ 2014 report, <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/transnational-organized-crime" target="_blank">Gangs Beyond Borders: California and the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime</a>.</p>
<p>“Transnational criminal organizations rely on a steady flow of billions of dollars in laundered money to support their operations,” Attorney General Harris said. “The legislation I am sponsoring will equip local and state law enforcement with more tools to target their illicit profits and dismantle these dangerous organizations.” </p>
<p>Senate Bill 298 (Block, D-San Diego) would add money laundering to the list of predicate offenses for wiretapping under Penal Code 629.52 if the money laundering is associated with a organized criminal group and the value of the transactions exceeds $50,000. Currently, the existing wiretap statute only applies to drug trafficking, human trafficking and street gang felonies – which all have a direct nexus to transnational criminal organizations. This bill would allow law enforcement to utilize wiretaps to investigate financial fraud, allowing them to target the financial pipeline that sustains the operations of transnational criminal organizations. </p>
<p>“If money is the root of all evil, then money laundering is the insidious offshoot,” said State Senator Marty Block. “Money laundering camouflages the profit from heinous crimes such as human and weapons trafficking and allows criminals to profit from and expand their operations. SB 298 hands law enforcement another tool to fight the most grievous crimes they face.” </p>
<p>Assembly Bill 443 (Alejo, D-Salinas) would allow for the preservation of criminal assets before charges are filed under the following circumstances:</p>
<ul><li>at least $10,000 is at stake<b></b></li>
<li>the judge finds a substantial probability that charges will be filed and the government will prevail<b></b></li>
<li>the proceeds will otherwise be destroyed or made unavailable<b></b></li>
<li>the need to preserve outweighs any hardship of the party impacted.</li>
</ul><p>AB 443 addresses the gap in law that prevents prosecutors from freezing criminal proceeds prior to an indictment being filed, leading to criminal organizations disposing of these assets once a charge has been brought against them. The bill will allow prosecutors to effectively disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations and other sophisticated criminal profiteers.</p>
<p>“Gang violence and crime continue to be serious problems across the state, and we must take steps to diminish the grip they have on many of our most disadvantaged communities,” said Assemblyman Alejo. “Many of these organizations are operating in cities that I represent - Salinas, Watsonville, Soledad and King City. They use our kids as pawns, many of whom wind up in jail or dead, and they do this all to make a profit. By freezing the assets of criminal organizations, we hit them where it hurts most, and we can put a halt to their operations.”</p>
<p>In March 2014, Attorney General Harris issued “Gangs Beyond Borders: California and the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime,” the first comprehensive report analyzing the current state of transnational criminal organizations in California. The report is the first comprehensive report analyzing the current state of transnational criminal organizations in California and the threats they pose to the state’s public safety and economy.</p>
<p>The report also outlined recommendations to address this problem, which include increased funding for state anti-narcotics trafficking task forces and additional coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in combatting transnational criminal organizations. The report is available here: <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/transnational-organized-crime">https://oag.ca.gov/transnational-organized-crime</a>.</p>
<p>Following the release of this report, Attorney General Harris led a delegation of state attorneys general to Mexico to strengthen working relationships between the governments of both countries and enhance efforts to combat transnational crime. The delegation met with Mexican state attorneys general and federal officials to discuss the issues of drug, human and firearms trafficking, money laundering and high-tech crime.</p>
<p>Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and the four other state attorneys general also signed a letter of intent with the National Banking and Securities Commission of Mexico to establish a bi-national working group on money laundering enforcement. </p>
<p>In October 2014, Attorney General Harris announced the creation of a new anti-methamphetamine team of Special Agents based Los Angeles funded by a $1 million federal grant. The team will be comprised of six Special Agents assigned to investigate illicit activities related to the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine in California and will work in a coordinated effort with the other 18 existing California Department of Justice task forces. </p>
<p>Over the past four years, California Department of Justice special agents have seized over $200 million in cash, 10,000 kilos of cocaine, 12,000 pounds of methamphetamine, and taken nearly 12,000 illegal guns off the streets in California.</p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 23 Feb 2015 15:54:49 +0000Office of the Attorney General48488 at https://www.oag.ca.govAttorney General Kamala D. Harris Issues Decision Approving Sale of Six Daughters of Charity Health Facilities https://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-issues-decision-approving-sale-six-daughters
<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-02-20T00:00:00-08:00">February 20, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (415) 703-5837, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>SAN FRANCISCO—Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today issued her decision granting conditional approval of the change of control and governance of Daughters of Charity Health System that includes six health facilities to Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. and Prime Healthcare Foundation, Inc. (collectively Prime). This approval includes strong conditions to ensure continued community access to essential healthcare services.</p>
<p>The transaction includes the following six health facilities:</p>
<ul><li>St. Vincent Medical Center</li>
<li>St. Francis Medical Center</li>
<li>O’Connor Hospital</li>
<li>Saint Louise Regional Hospital</li>
<li>Seton Medical Center</li>
<li>Seton Coastside</li>
</ul><p>The Attorney General approved the transaction with the following key conditions:</p>
<ul><li>For ten years, Prime must operate St. Francis, O’Connor, Saint Louise and Seton Medical Center as acute care hospitals and offer emergency services.</li>
<li>For ten years, Prime must operate Seton Coastside as a skilled nursing facility with emergency services.</li>
<li>For ten years, Prime must be certified to participate in the Medi-Cal and Medicare programs and have or maintain Medi-Cal managed care contracts at each of the facilities.</li>
<li>Prime must continue to provide essential health care services at the facilities including reproductive health care services.</li>
<li>Prime must invest $150 million in capital improvement expenditures at the facilities over the next 3 years.</li>
<li>Prime must continue to provide charity care and community benefits at historical levels.</li>
<li>Prime will assume and guarantee all pension obligations covering approximately 17,000 current and retired employees.</li>
<li>At each of the facilities and the medical office buildings, there shall be no restriction or limitation on providing or making reproductive health care services available, and this requirement must be explicitly set forth in the facilities’ policies and procedures.</li>
<li>Prime must meet seismic compliance requirements until 2030 at all the facilities, including retrofitting the patient tower at Seton Medical Center.</li>
<li>Prime must revise its policies, tools, procedures, guidelines and training materials for its debt collection practices to ensure it does not violate state and federal debt collection laws and regulations. </li>
<li>At each of the facilities and the medical office buildings, there shall be no discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals, and this requirement must be explicitly set forth in the facilities’ policies and procedures.</li>
<li>All of the facilities will be required to submit to the Attorney General an annual report describing in detail their compliance with the conditions. </li>
</ul><p>The sale of the Daughters of Charity facilities is the largest transaction ever reviewed by the California Attorney General’s Office. The decision to approve the transaction follows an in-depth review that included five independent Health Care Impact Statements, six public meetings that collectively went more than 44 hours and where hundreds of comments were submitted, receipt and consideration of more than 14,000 comments separately delivered to the Attorney General’s Office, and consultations with independent health care experts and concerned community members. </p>
<p>The Attorney General’s decision conditionally approving the transaction with the full list of conditions can be found here: <a href="http://bit.ly/17BXffN">http://bit.ly/17BXffN</a></p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 20 Feb 2015 23:06:42 +0000Office of the Attorney General48485 at https://www.oag.ca.govAttorney General Kamala D. Harris Issues Statement in Celebration of the Lunar New Yearhttps://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-issues-statement-celebration-lunar-new-year
<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-02-19T00:00:00-08:00">February 19, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (415) 703-5837, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>SAN FRANCISCO – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris issued the following statement today in celebration of the Lunar New Year:</p>
<p>“Asian Americans have made vital contributions to the cultural richness and success of the Golden State. I wish every Californian good health and happiness this Lunar New Year. I look forward to a prosperous Year of the Goat! Gong Xi Fa Cai, Saehae Bok Mani Badeuseyo, Chúc Mừng Năm Mới, and Happy Lunar New Year!” </p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 19 Feb 2015 20:47:00 +0000Office of the Attorney General48470 at https://www.oag.ca.govDiverse Legislators, National and State Advocates for Children Applaud Launch of Bureau of Children’s Justice by Attorney General Kamala D. Harrishttps://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/diverse-legislators-national-and-state-advocates-children-applaud-launch-bureau
<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-02-18T00:00:00-08:00">February 18, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (415) 703-5837, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>LOS ANGELES— Last Thursday, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced the formation of the Bureau of Children’s Justice within the California Department of Justice. The Bureau will increase support for vulnerable children, work with stakeholders to improve policies affecting children, and enforce California’s civil and criminal laws with respect to California’s foster care, adoption, and juvenile justice systems; discrimination and inequities in education; California’s elementary school truancy crisis; human trafficking of vulnerable youth; and childhood trauma and exposure to violence.</p>
<p>Attorney General Kamala Harris was joined by leaders of state and national organizations at a press conference in Los Angeles unveiling the bureau and other leaders from across the state and country are applauding this important step.</p>
<p><strong>Marian Wright Edelman, President of the Children’s Defense Fund:</strong></p>
<p>“The newly established Bureau of Children’s Justice will help ensure that many more California children, now at great risk of entering the state’s Cradle to Prison Pipeline, will benefit from new protection and supports they need to meet their full potential and succeed in school and in life.”</p>
<p><strong>Ted Lempert, President of Children Now:</strong></p>
<p>“We are thrilled that Attorney General Harris is making children her top priority with this new Bureau. Given the Attorney General's past leadership and success with reducing chronic absence and suspensions in California, I’m confident the new Bureau will be very positive for children.”</p>
<p><strong>Diana S. Dooley, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency:</strong></p>
<p>“I’m happy to join Attorney General Harris in shining a spotlight on the importance of safeguarding our children. We at the California Health and Human Services Agency place a high interest and priority on addressing childhood trauma and we are committed with our county and community partners to meet the needs of all of our kids.”</p>
<p><strong>Dr. Robert K. Ross, President and CEO, The California Endowment:</strong></p>
<p>“I commend Attorney General Harris for taking this important step to protect the youngest and most vulnerable Californians. The Bureau of Children’s Justice will watch over our state’s legal system and guarantee greater protection for our children, safeguarding their physical, social and emotional health and helping to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to grow up healthy and safe.”</p>
<p><strong>Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Carpinteria):</strong></p>
<p>"I applaud Attorney General Harris for investing in children and preventing them from ever becoming involved with the justice system as victims or perpetrators of crime. As the chair of the API Legislative Caucus, I am painfully aware of the threat crime poses to Asian American and Pacific Islander children, specifically when it comes to discrimination, bullying, and human trafficking. This is a good step in the right direction to protect all of California's children."</p>
<p><strong>Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr. (D-Los Angeles):</strong></p>
<p>“It is essential that our children are protected and that we take a proactive approach to that protection. As the Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color and the Legislative Black Caucus, I believe the Bureau of Children’s Justice will take an active role in protecting our at-risk children in California.”</p>
<p><strong>Esta Soler, President and Founder of Futures Without Violence:</strong></p>
<p>“The creation of this Bureau for Children’s Justice is a smart strategy that ensures our most vulnerable are protected today while also preventing crime and violence in the future. We are eager to work with the Attorney General to break the cycle of violence by helping traumatized children heal.”</p>
<p><strong>Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund):</strong></p>
<p>“Children are most important for the future ability of this state to thrive. The step being announced, ensuring that there is a bureau dedicated to focusing on children, is one that will yield tremendous benefits, not only for the children who are affected, not only for their parents, but for the entire state of California.”</p>
<p><strong>Jennifer Perry, Executive Director of Children’s Action Network and board member of Children’s Law Center:</strong></p>
<p>“When you ask a children in foster care ‘why are you here?’, not ‘what are you doing here?’, you can bring the resources to bear on changing the future for that child. Three percent of kids in foster care go on to complete a college or vocational education, 70% of them want to. We should be asking ‘why?’ Why aren’t we helping those kids achieve their aspirations? I commend the Attorney General for already knowing the ‘why’ and making a huge step forward and looking at the ‘how’—how are we going to work together to make sure that all of them have the future that they deserve.”</p>
<p><strong>Alex Johnson, Executive Director of California Children’s Defense Fund:</strong></p>
<p>“We have to ensure that children have a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start, and indeed, a moral start in life. That is the essence of this bureau, ensuring that children have those vital necessities that they need to succeed in the long-term. It offers a great opportunity to address the root causes of the cradle-to-prison pipeline. Let me thank the Attorney General and this office for its leadership in investing in children, recognizing that our moral authority as adults requires us to place children at the forefront.”</p>
<p><strong>Ryan Smith, Executive Director of Education Trust- West:</strong></p>
<p>“The Attorney General is building on her track record of helping students, supporting schools across the state, assuring that students have the right to an equal education. Going forward, it’s up to all of us to work with the Attorney General to make sure that every child has the right to succeed.”</p>
<p>The Bureau draws on Attorney General Harris’ expertise as a career prosecutor focusing on sexual and physical crimes against children and her commitment to defending every child in California. Attorney General Harris served two terms as District Attorney of San Francisco, where she created a child sexual assault unit. She also led the San Francisco City Attorney’s Division on Children and Families and specialized in prosecuting child sexual assault cases at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.</p>
<p>For more information on the bureau, click <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/bcj">here</a> or read the press release launching the Bureau <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-unveils-bureau-childrens-justice">here</a>.</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 18 Feb 2015 19:31:00 +0000Office of the Attorney General48462 at https://www.oag.ca.govAttorney General Kamala D. Harris Issues Statement on Federal Judge Ruling on President’s Immigration Reform Executive Actions https://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-issues-statement-federal-judge-ruling-president
<div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-02-17T00:00:00-08:00">February 17, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (415) 703-5837, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>SAN FRANCISCO<b> </b>–<b> </b>Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today issued the following statement on the Federal District Court’s decision to grant an injunction against the implementation of President Barack Obama’s immigration executive actions.</p>
<p>“President Obama has proposed common-sense actions to help address our broken immigration system—using the same executive authority that every president has used in the last five decades. I am disappointed by the District Court’s ruling, which will delay justice and fairness for many immigrant families. Bringing nearly five million individuals out of the shadows will promote public safety, benefit our economy and extend the American Dream.” </p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 17 Feb 2015 22:10:36 +0000Office of the Attorney General48457 at https://www.oag.ca.govAttorney General Kamala D. Harris Unveils Bureau of Children’s Justicehttps://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-unveils-bureau-childrens-justice
<div class="field field-name-field-sub-headline field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">In First Action, New Bureau Sends Letters to All California Counties Reviewing Responsibilities for Foster Care System Oversight</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2015-02-12T00:00:00-08:00">February 12, 2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (415) 703-5837, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>LOS ANGELES – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today unveiled the Bureau of Children’s Justice within the California Department of Justice that will work to ensure all of California’s children are on track to meet their full potential. In the Bureau’s first action, Attorney General Harris sent a <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/bcj/ag-letter-to-counties.pdf?" target="_blank">letter</a> to officials in all 58 counties in California, outlining their legal responsibilities with regard to foster youth and urging each county to evaluate their current enforcement and oversight policies and practices.</p>
<p>The Bureau will enforce criminal and civil laws to hold those who prey on children accountable; work with a range of local, state, and national stakeholders to increase support for vulnerable children to prevent bad outcomes; and identify and pursue improvements to policies impacting children.</p>
<p>“We simply cannot let down our most vulnerable children today, then lock them up tomorrow and act surprised,” said Attorney General Harris. “The Bureau of Children’s Justice will continue our smart on crime approach by addressing the root causes of crime, including our broken foster care system, and making certain that California’s children receive full protection under the law and equal opportunities to succeed. One of the Bureau’s first orders of business will be to look at enforcement gaps in the foster care system and ensure that government agencies are held accountable to those entrusted in their care.” </p>
<p>Attorney General Harris’ letter to counties lays out their responsibilities in protecting children in foster care and overseeing the agencies that provide direct services to these children. In the coming months, the Bureau will focus on identifying accountability and enforcement gaps in the foster system to ensure children have the support they need.</p>
<p>“We are thrilled that Attorney General Harris is making children her top priority with this new Bureau,” said Ted Lempert, president of Children Now. “Given the Attorney General's past leadership and success with reducing chronic absence and suspensions in California, I’m confident the new Bureau will be very positive for children.”</p>
<p>“I’m happy to join Attorney General Harris in shining a spotlight on the importance of safeguarding our children,” said Diana S. Dooley, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. “We at the California Health and Human Services Agency place a high interest and priority on addressing childhood trauma and we are committed with our county and community partners to meet the needs of all of our kids.”</p>
<p>The Bureau will draw on the civil and criminal law enforcement capacity of the California Department of Justice and build on CADOJ’s existing work on key issues affecting children. Core priorities for the newly formed bureau include</p>
<ul><li>California’s foster care, adoption, and juvenile justice systems</li>
<li>Discrimination and inequities in education</li>
<li>California’s elementary school truancy crisis</li>
<li>Human trafficking of vulnerable youth</li>
<li>Childhood trauma and exposure to violence</li>
</ul><p>Attorney General Harris also announced that the California Department of Justice was one of just three state agencies accepted by the U.S. Department of Justice to be part of its national Defending Childhood Initiative. Through this initiative, California will work to improve outcomes for children exposed to trauma by ensuring that at-risk children are screened for exposure to violence at school, when they visit a pediatrician, or when they become involved with child welfare and juvenile justice systems.</p>
<p>“I commend Attorney General Harris for taking this important step to protect the youngest and most vulnerable Californians,” said Dr. Robert K. Ross, President and CEO, The California Endowment. “The Bureau of Children’s Justice will watch over our state’s legal system and guarantee greater protection for our children, safeguarding their physical, social and emotional health and helping to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to grow up healthy and safe.”</p>
<p>The Bureau will expand CADOJ’s efforts to combat the crisis of elementary school truancy, piloting programs with school districts to improve attendance and launching a new partnership with University of California, Santa Barbara to ensure these pilots can be replicated across the state.</p>
<p>The Bureau draws on Attorney General Harris’ expertise as a career prosecutor focusing on sexual and physical crimes against children and her commitment to defending every child in California. Attorney General Harris served two terms as District Attorney of San Francisco, where she created a child sexual assault unit. She also led the San Francisco City Attorney’s Division on Children and Families and specialized in prosecuting child sexual assault cases at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.</p>
<p>The Bureau will be staffed by attorneys and experts on legal issues impacting children, including civil rights, education, consumer protection, nonprofit charities, child welfare, privacy and identity theft, fraud, and human trafficking.</p>
<p>To view the letter to counties, click here: <a href="http://bit.ly/1vHdkg7">http://bit.ly/1vHdkg7</a></p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 21:21:50 +0000Office of the Attorney General48403 at https://www.oag.ca.gov